US Open 2024 – Men's final preview: Sinner vs Fritz

Jannik Sinner (No.1) - Taylor Fritz (No.12)

💪 The context / The current form 

World No.1 Jannik Sinner has competed and struck the ball just like a world No.1 is expected to take his semi-final tussle versus Jack Draper.

Sinner withstood the humidity, a catalogue of draining rallies, to stamp his authority on this tournament, which has witnessed rivals such as Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic suffer early exits. In one pivotal point against Draper, Sinner retrieved a lob and fell to the floor at the backboards, quickly regaining his footing to lash a ferocious forehand past the Brit's reach. It's those moments which make Sinner such a world beater.

The Australian Open champion has built round by round, which can also be said for Taylor Fritz. The American No.1 will head into his first Grand Slam final off the back of a five-set firecracker with compatriot Frances Tiafoe.

The world No.12 is speaking like a man primed to halt a 21-year wait for an American man to lift a Grand Slam singles trophy. Andy Roddick is the quiz question answer from the 2003 US Open.

With a boisterous home crowd surging him on, Fritz will need to play the match of his career to outsmart 'The Fox.'

🏆 Their 2024 tournament

During his semi-final press conference, Draper quipped that Sinner's greatest weakness is he's just "too nice." Draper indicated that Sinner's armoury is complete, however, the Italian was quick to point out – "Going for sure on the net, sometimes I miss some volleys. Shot selection sometimes is still, I feel I can make it a little bit better. There are also some small things, the small details what makes a big difference in high level." Well so far, Sinner has been pretty impressive at net, enhancing his score with a 112/153 success rate.

1st round: victory against Mackenzie McDonald 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 (2hrs24mins)

2nd round: victory against Alex Michelsen 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 (1hr39mins)

3rd round: victory against Christopher O'Connell 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 (1hr53mins)

Round of 16: victory against Tommy Paul 7-6(3), 7-6(5), 6-1 (2hrs42mins)

Quarter-finals: victory against Daniil Medvedev 6-2, 1-6, 6-1, 6-4 (2hrs39mins) 

Semi-finals: victory against Jack Draper 7-5, 7-6(2), 6-2 (3hrs3mins)

The world No.1 is an exceptional returner, so Fritz will need to find his range and consistency on his main weapon – the serve – from the starting blocks. The 26-year-old has a current tournament average of 59 per cent first serves finding the box, winning 81 per cent of those points. It's ever so simple, but Fritz's chances rest heavily on this factor. The American No.1 will need to be more clinical in the pressure points, having converted 26 of 59 break opportunities across his six battles thus far.

1st round: victory against Camilo Ugo Carabelli 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 (1hr51mins)

2nd round: victory against Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 7-6(1), 6-1 (2hrs9mins)

3rd round: victory against Franciso Comesana 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 (2hrs)

Round of 16: victory against Casper Ruud 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 (2hrs43mins)

Quarter-finals: victory against Alexander Zverev 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) (3hrs26mins)

Semi-finals: victory against Frances Tiafoe 4-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 (3hrs18mins)

🆚 Face-to-face

Their previous encounters are tied at one each from duels in the Californian desert at the Indian Wells Masters 1000. Fritz enjoyed a 6-4, 6-3 victory back in 2021, then Sinner found the answers in a finely-poised 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 scoreboard last March.

🎤 Heard in media

Jannik Sinner: "Well, big serve. Very solid player from the back of the court. He can hit strong. He can hit with rotation. He can mix up the game very well. He has played a lot this year, so he has a lot of rhythm of the match. They deserve to be in the final. So it's going to be a tough match. 

"We went just day by day, really, with not so many expectations. Trying to find my game, trying to find our rhythm. I started off the first day losing, I was set and break down going through that one. Just trying to find confidence throughout the days. We practiced very hard in the days in between. I'm happy to be in the final here. It's a special tournament, so let's see what's coming Sunday."

Taylor Fritz: "To be honest, I don't think that I'm gonna be put in a more stressful situation than I was today than playing in a final," said Fritz after his semi-final epic with close friend Tiafoe. 

"I have a feeling I'm going to come out and play really well and win. When I play good tennis, I think that level is good enough to win. Playing the world No.1 who you're probably not going to be the favourite against. I don't know, he strikes, he hits the ball big, but I feel like I always hit the ball really nice off of his ball. I think I typically play well against him.

"It's such a lifelong dream come true, something I've worked my whole life for to be in this situation. I think just realising that got me a little bit choked up."